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Cheap cordage

Not sure if this is the best place to post this but I wanted to share a find with everyone. I have some small diameter polypro rope that I have been using for various things around camp and the house. It seems to be decent rope, especially for the cost. Its about 1/8" wide and is diamond braided with a central core. It seems to be low stretch although I havent tested that. I have been using it for my tarp ridgeline and guy outs and it seems adequate enough for that purpose. It holds a knot decently well with a little coaxing and is fairly lightweight. Mind you, it isnt nearly lightweight as Zing-it/Lash-it and I imagine splicing is out of the question. It also doesnt hold nearly as much weight as the zing it. I get it at Wally World in the boasting/marine section for $1.76 for a 45' spool. $7.04 for 180 feet. Works out to be ~$.04 per foot, after tax .It weighs about 2.5 oz for 45' so probably not the best option if youre looking for ultra light weight, Nevertheless, if youre on a budget and need some cord for ridgelines or guyouts, its not a bad option IMHO. Comes in Bright green, pink, orange as well as camo. Ive also seen it at Academy Sports for more $. Heres a pic....

Used it for several years for utility cordage, food bag hanging (mainly rodents), etc. Its convenient on the spool. I like that it's so cheap I cut what I need and discard later once it is no longer useful.

IF you want to lighten up a little for similar cost, try braided masons twine. Available at some Walmarts in the tools section and as trot line in the fishing section. Don't get the tarred line though, it's stinky. Home Depot and Lowes have it in the line section, usually in pink and chartreuse green. I found dark green by looking around. Fairly strong, fairly tangle resistant, but not as much as the diamond braid you have, pretty light, lots of footage, uses. Some are rated at 180# break strength IIRC, spliceable if you're very patient AND a good splicer.

Nice find! I need a ridgeline for a chinook im going to get and this should be perfect.. a ridgeline for less than two bucks. thanks for sharing!

Which Chinook did you get? I just got my 12x9.6 in the mail a couple of days ago. I havent had a chance to mess with it yet but plan on setting it up tomorrow, sometime. It seems like a darn nice tarp so far. Its much lighter than I expected. Im not a ultra gram saver but I like to shave oz where I can. I was expecting it to be a big heavy mass. It weighed 24 oz. But thats nothing compared to what Im used to. It was packed in the stuff sack folded flat. About 14 by 6 inches or so. You can fold the whole thing in half and reduce its foot print and get rid of the extra stuff sack material.

IF you want to lighten up a little for similar cost, try braided masons twine.

I started to get some masons line based off of a few recommendations but I was, strangely enough, put off a little bit by it being so small. I have a hard enough time tying knots as it is, ha ha. I can see myself switching to it or zing it in the future though. Either that or some dacron kite line.

Which Chinook did you get? I just got my 12x9.6 in the mail a couple of days ago. I havent had a chance to mess with it yet but plan on setting it up tomorrow, sometime. It seems like a darn nice tarp so far. Its much lighter than I expected. Im not a ultra gram saver but I like to shave oz where I can. I was expecting it to be a big heavy mass. It weighed 24 oz. But thats nothing compared to what Im used to. It was packed in the stuff sack folded flat. About 14 by 6 inches or so. You can fold the whole thing in half and reduce its foot print and get rid of the extra stuff sack material.

good to know... hoping to get the 12x9.6 soon but have some other stuff i need before i get it

The Urban Outdoorsman- inspiring people to get out and enjoy the great outdoors

I use the same stuff (in the camo color; all of 'em are available at WallyWorld, as well) for my tarp's CRL. It's fairly low-stretch--after the first time you really tension it. Expect to have to adjust it the first time or two you set up. After that, you're golden.

I also like braided mason's line, but it is most definitely not low-stretch. It's not as bad as 550 cord, but it sure isn't Amsteel, either. I bring some as general utility line in my emergency kit, just in case, but that's mostly because it's so light and cheap.

The cheapest throw line from arborist suppliers is much less expensive than Amsteel. 1/8" polypropolene, for example, from Wesspur. (Slick and Target are the product names @ <$.10 / ft.

(I have listed excess Spectra / Dyneema 1.75mm throw-line to get rid of at less than than price + shipping, after outfitting half a dozen tarps. )

I am sure that nacra533 will not buy lousy mason's line. But, there is some terrible stuff sold as mason's line in the big box home improvement stores, right down there with untempered hammers and similar.